Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;phalfniwin&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALFNIWIN’, particularly characterized by having large, light purple, spotted flowers (intensity and number of spots depend on the temperature), 1 to 2 peduncles that are long and sturdy, leaves that are obovate, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination:

‘PHALFNIWIN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of theOrchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘PHALFNIWIN’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objectiveof this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant withlarge, light purple, spotted flowers suitable for potted plantproduction. The intensity and number of spots depend on the temperature.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALFNIWIN’ is a result of cross-pollinationmade by the inventor in October 2006 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands ofthe proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘14261-01’(unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsishybrid ‘01-1941’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in October 2009. Asexualreproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culturesince 2012 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the newvariety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Sep. 13, 2016. ‘PHALFNIWIN’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and can be used todistinguish ‘PHALFNIWIN’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsisplant.

-   -   1) Large, light purple, spotted flowers (intensity and number of        spots depend on the temperature);    -   2) 1 to 2 peduncles;    -   3) Peduncle is long and sturdy; and    -   4) Shape of the leaf is obovate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms andfoliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs weretaken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, from 50-week oldplants in October 2016. Colors in the photographs may differ from thecolor values cited in the detailed botanical description, whichaccurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of‘PHALFNIWIN’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALFNIWIN’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALFNIWIN’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALFNIWIN’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype. The chart used in the identification of colors describedherein is the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms ofordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. Observations and measurements were made in October 2016 on50-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Moth orchid.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALFNIWIN’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘14261-01’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘0.1-1941’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots with branching            lateral roots having purple colored root tips.-   Plant:    -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Approximately 48 to 50            weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to            panicle.        -   Height (from soil level to top of            inflorescence).—Approximately 49.0 cm to 59.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 35.0 cm to 40.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Strong.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 9 leaves are            produced before flowering Length (fully expanded): 17.0 cm            to 19.0 cm Width: 7.0 cm to 7.5 cm Shape: Oblong Base shape:            Moderately elongated Apex: Unequal obtuse Leaf blade angle            with the petiole (measured from the horizontal position):            Between 15 degrees and 30 degrees Leaf margin: Entire Color:            Upper surface: RHS 146A Lower surface: RHS 146B Texture: A            little bit rough Thickness: 2.1 mm to 2.3 mm Venation:            Pattern: Parallel Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS            146A Lower surface: RHS 146B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—9 to 16.        -   Length.—44.0 cm to 54.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—5.4 mm to 5.7 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Brown (RHS 200B) with a touch of green (RHS 146A).        -   Internode length.—40.0 mm to 50.0 mm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—        -   Height (from base to tip).—160.0 mm to 260.0 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 85.0 mm to 90.0 mm Diameter: 93.0 mm to 98.0            mm Depth of lip: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 10 to 14 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Average size: Medium to large Length: 24.0 mm to            26.0 mm Width: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm Shape: Egg shaped Color:            Mix of light green (RHS 145B/C) and greyed-red (RHS 182B)            with diluted purple spots (RHS N79A).        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free Shape: Semi-circular Apex:            Emarginated Margin: Undulated Length (from base to tip):            42.0 mm to 44.0 mm Width: 58.0 mm to 60.0 mm Color (when            fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Light purple (RHS            76D) Over color: Purple (RHS 187B) with dark purple spots            (RHS N78C) Lower surface: Basic color: Light purple (RHS            76D) Over color: Purple (RHS 77D) and slightly light green            (RHS 145D) at the base with diluted dark purple spots (RHS            187B).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Broad elliptic Apex: Rounded to            slightly emarginated Margin: Entire Length (from base to            tip): 46.0 mm to 48.0 mm Width: 34.0 mm to 36.0 mm Color            (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Light            purple (RHS 76D) Over color: Purple (RHS N78C) with dark            purple spots (RHS 187B) Lower surface: Basic color: Light            purple (RHS 76C) Over color: Purple (RHS N78D) and light            green (RHS 145C); with diluted dark purple spots (RHS 187B)            at the edge.        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate Apex: Obtuse asymmetric Margin:            Entire Length (from base to tip): 45.0 mm to 47.0 mm Width:            30.0 mm to 32.0 mm Color (when fully opened): Upper surface:            Basic color: Light purple (RHS 76D) and light green (RHS            145C) Over color: Purple (RHS N78D) and light green (RHS            145C); with dark purple spots (RHS 187B) Lower surface:            Basic color: Light purple (RHS 76D) Over color: Purple (RHS            N78C) and light green (RHS 145C).        -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present Length of whiskers: 14.0            mm to 16.0 mm Color of whiskers: Red-purple (RHS 64A)            Pubescence on the lip: Absent.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Spatulate Margin: Entire Length (from            base to tip): 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm Width: 15.0 mm to 17.0 mm            Color: Red (RHS 185A) at the base; white (RHS 155C) and            purple (RHS N78A) towards the edge; slightly yellow (RHS 7A)            on one side.        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular Margin: Entire Length: 18.0            mm to 20.0 mm Width: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm Color: Yellow (RHS            7A) at the base; purple (RHSA 64A) towards the whiskers.        -   Callus.—Average size: Medium to large Height: 0.7 cm to 0.8            cm Length: 0.6 cm to 0.7 cm Width: 0.4 cm to 0.5 cm Color:            Dark purple (RHS 187A).        -   Reproductive organs.—Column: Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm            Diameter: 5.4 mm to 5.6 mm Color: Dark purple (RHS N79C) at            the base and red-purple (RHS 72B) Pollinia: Quantity: 2            Diameter: 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm Color: Orange (RHS 25A) Ovary:            Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm Diameter: 2.6 mm to 2.8 mm            Pedicel: Length: 35.0 mm to 37.0 mm Diameter: 3.0 mm to 3.2            mm Color: Green (RHS 146D) at the base; light purple (RHS            N75C/D) towards the flower.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to    Phalaenopsis.-   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on    plants of the new Phalaenopsis.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘PHALFNIWIN’ differs from female parent plant ‘14261-01’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALFNIWIN’ has a spotted flower pattern that is shaded in thecenter with a light purple center, whereas ‘14261-01’ has an even flowerpattern with a white center. Additionally, ‘PHALFNIWIN’ has shorterwhiskers than ‘14261-01’.

‘PHALFNIWIN’ differs from male parent plant ‘01-1941’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALFNIWIN’ has a spotted flower pattern that is shaded in thecenter with a light purple center, whereas ‘01-1941’ has a spottedflower pattern with a striped edge and a white center.

‘PHALFNIWIN’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named‘PHALFOYX’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/757,344) and‘PHALDUZAH’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,830). ‘PHALFNIWIN’ differs from thecommercial variety ‘PHALFOYX’ in that ‘PHALFNIWIN’ has a spotted flowerpattern that is shaded in the center, an emarginated petal apex and anapical lobe that is yellow at the base and purple towards the whiskers,whereas ‘PHALFOYX’ has a spotted and edged flower pattern with the spotslarger at the center and becoming smaller towards the edge, a roundedpetal apex and a white apical lobe with yellow at the base and purpletowards the whiskers and diluting dots. Additionally, ‘PHALFNIWIN’ has aspatulate lateral lobe, whereas ‘PHALFOYX’ has a weakly spatulatelateral lobe.

‘PHALFNIWIN’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDUZAH’ in that‘PHALFNIWIN’ has a spotted flower pattern that is shaded in the centerand an apical lobe that is yellow at the base and dark purple towardsthe whiskers, whereas ‘PHALDUZAH’ has a flecked and centered flowerpattern and an apical lobe that is yellow at the base with a stripe inthe middle and light purple on both sides towards the whiskers.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALFNIWIN’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.